Page Turners: Books Recs for "Regular" Readers

- Cue Horror Movie Music - 

"Oh, you're a reader? That's great. I always want to read more. What would you recommend?"

*Cue Panic Attack*

*Takes deep breath and notices the person is still waiting for an answer*

“I don’t know. I can’t really think of anything. I’ll get back to you!” ::dramatic and awkward exit:: 

- and Scene - 

The interesting thing about this scene is that 1) it occurs at least once per week and my response is exactly the same each time and 2) that without the direct question, I will almost certainly start talking about books I’ve loved, recently read, or somehow tangentially relate to the current conversation topic. But as soon as I’m asked for a book recommendation I actually have zero recommendations! Two such incidents have resulted in actual blog posts for specific people, my friends Jennifer and Laura (names linked to posts), because I promised them that I would “think about it” and get back to them. Ridiculous. I don’t think either of them thought it would be such a big flipping deal!

So, those Page Turner posts inspired a “Regular feature” idea, which is premiering here on my guest post for The Book Voyagers. Clearly, I’m columbusing the use of the word “premier” here as I’ve already said: this isn’t actually the first one, just the first without a specific person in mind. Let us not get distracted with technicalities. Carry on.

Comics I'm All About Right Now - March 2016 (Book Review)

So you know what a subscription service is, right? Also known as a sub service, pull list, etc. It's the list of books that your local shop keeper makes sure are set aside for you on a regular basis. My sub service is at Comics Etc on Main Street. They have one of the worst web sites in 2016 but keep an active Facebook Page and a Facebook group for those who are so inclined. The store itself is big and carries a wide selection of books, and geeky extras. They also keep a whole lot of trade paperbacks, which are my format of choice for most things. However, if you care about the condition of the books on the shelves, this is not the store for you. Everything is crammed together and needs to be culled like nobodies business. For straight readers though, not collectors, this means that lots of older books haven't been marked up as back issues.

Anyway,  I usually follow books in trade paper back (TPB) form, the collection of several single issue books, because I can't manage to stay on top of a story in 32 page bursts with 4 - 6 weeks in between. A down side of reading things in TPB, though, is that I have to wait an extended period of time for the collection to come out... and WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING IN SAGA RIGHT NOW!!?? I DON'T EVEN KNOW!!  ::breathe::

I have a few TPBs on my sub- service because I also can't manage to remember to keep track of when they are scheduled to come out... are there people who keep track of these things on their own? They are better geeks than I, letmejusttellya. I also recently added a butt- ton of titles to my sub- service to start following in single issue. There really is no rhyme nor reason. It's also interesting to me how I'm willing to pay for comics and trades but scoff at the retail price of "regular" books. I am an enigma. 

Completed Book Challenges 2015

For 2015, I participated in 3 Reading Challenges that are completed, my first 24- Hour Readathon, and there are two challenges that have started that will go through the end of 2015 (I'll save those for a later post). Oh! I also became more involved with this whole book blogging community! Whoot whoot!

I like book challenges because they make me think a little about which books I'm choosing and can also force me out of the comfort zone of my usual books. Well, kind of. For the category- based challenges, there are always those categories that I don't do, usually the ones that I really don't want to read. 

Outbox (October 2015): Rereads and people die all over the place... I won't tell you who.

September kind of felt like a light reading month for me. Looking at my Goodreads for the month, I noticed that the majority of the books I read were audiobooks and books that I've read before. I also read a few books that were shorter than my usual (e.g., Coal, The Great Gatsby, and Animal Farm). Sometimes, it feels like adding these smaller books to my read list is cheating (which is why I count comics, trades, and graphic novels separately), even though I know that's ridiculous. More pages doesn't legitimize a book. But that's a topic for a different post.. and likely a different blogger.

Anywho. Here's my Outbox post for September:

I've already posted about the books about books that I read in September. Yes, I did!! So, I won't repeat my gushing about those in this post, as tempting as that might be.

THE REREADS

Re- reading the Classics: You'll notice a theme below. Re-reading a book, which I have never done before, is interesting. You think you know what's going to happen. And sometimes you do. But sometimes you've really changed the events in the book to match your overall impression of the book, you know what I mean. I think with these classics, I had an idea of the story that was all mashed up with pop culture references. I enjoyed rereading each of these, unlike the disaster that was me trying to read Wuthering Heights which actually took 10 years off the end of my life. I did a thing I rarely do: I quit reading it with only 3 hours left of the audiobook. Just couldn't do it. 

Thoughts while re-reading the Classics: 

To Kill a Mockingbird - Have I ever read this all the way through? Why are people always talking about Boo Radley, he's only in it for four seconds. Scout is an idiot; Oh, wait, she's only 8 years old. Ugh, I hate that this is still relevant in 2015

Animal Farm - Have I read this before? Oh, I can see how this might be used in a high school. Nuh uh! They are changing the rules! Pigs... heh, I get it. 

The Great Gatsby: OK. Maybe I've never read this. I have no recollection of that happening... What!?

Harry Potter: Yes, I know these aren't classics. But they will be. I loved them just as much this time as the first time. I had to skip book 2 because there was such a long wait time for the Overdrive edition. But, it was a reread, so I felt ok about that. Still love Lupin. 

THE NEWBIES:

Tell the Wolves I'm Home: This books has been on several Must Read book lists that I have seen. It's the story of a geeky teenage girl who loses her uncle to AIDS. The loss of her favorite uncle and primary emotional support pretty much rocks her world and forces her to figure out what she thinks is important in life. I didn't cry, but I'm kind of a robot.

Pretty is: This book's summary was interesting, as is the idea for the story. Two adult women revisit the two month period when they were kidnapped and held in the woods. I actually really liked the view of the girls and their connection to the time and the man over the course of their lives. It had a few too many layers (a movie, based on a book, based on the story of the girls from one perspective with the view point of the other folks thrown in). The "thriller" stalker part was unnecessary and wrapped up too quickly. And other lines didn't wrap up very satisfactorily at all. The psychology of the unloved/ unlovable post trauma thing was interesting.

Purple Hibiscus: This was my Book Club pick for one of my discussion groups. Every member actually finished the book, which is not usual, and several people "didn't know what the think of it." The discussion was a good one and it's one of those books where you find yourself trying to understand the perspectives of each of the characters. Discussion considerations: is what makes a good person a good person and the different faces we put on at home and in public.

Comics I'm All about Right Now (Book Review)

There are some days when I'm just not in a novel mood... like, not in the mood for a novel... But I'm always in the mood for a good story and pretty pictures. Enter: Comic Mode. 

Fables #150 hit stands this month. Interestingly, it's long enough in and of itself to also be the 22nd trade paperback, wrapping up the whole shebang. The cover opens to reveal a beautiful spread across the back for anyone nuts enough to break the binding on a book... who does that!? Fables has been the only one since Strangers in Paradise that I have collected in complete single issue format (with the exception of two trades when I got behind following a relocation). The books tell the story of all of the fables you know and love and their attempt to fight multiple adversaries, not the least of which is being forgotten by the real world. I love(d) this series and am sad to see it go. I was pleased to have most of the side characters get a little stories of their own in the last few issues. (I also love one of the spin off series: Fairest, and will be collecting the TPBs. The Jack of Fables spin off series, less so.) Also, check out the art work. You need this in your life.

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Jason Shawn Alexander, who according to his twitter photo, is not bad to gawk at, writes and lends a talented artistic hand to Empty Zone. Issue 3 hit shelves last week and I haven't been to pick it up, yet. #NoSpoilers. I am decidely slow on the uptake with new series/ books but I really had zero idea what was going on in Book 1. Book 2 added a little context to the dark and gritty story so I don't feel quite so lost among the ghosts, hallucinations, and half cyborg- bad ass chick main character. I'm excited to see where it's going. 

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Jeremy Haun offers a new book about an STD that makes the infected beautiful. The Beauty Issue 1 was out on August 12th and offered 3 different covers. I wrestled myself in the aisle (embarrassing!) and only bought my favorite one. The book asks you to consider if you would get infected to be beautiful? And at what cost. It's not clear what the final cost is for those in the book, yet. One of the most compelling elements of the story is the reaction of those who are not infected. We all know everyone harbors a bit of hatred for the prettiest boy or girl in the room. Mr. Haun has also started a campaign to raise awareness for the book that highlights positive body- image. And obviously, since it's 2015, there's a hashtag. Find out more here. And then look below for my STD free face... #TeamSafeSex!

Comics I'm all about right now (Book Review)

Look, I know everyone has already heard of these titles, I've discovered nothing new, and I'm just latesplaining. But, I'm #nerdstalking all things related to these books. Luckily, I'm broke or I'd, at minimum, have my BitchPlanet NC tattoo by now... If you don't know what that is, be sad because I'm cooler than you. 

Let's start with Bitch Planet, currently on issue 4. It's a little Running Man (movie based loosely on the book by Stephan King) and a little bit Stepford Wives. Well, I've never actually read/ seen Stepford Wives. But the idea is that women are being "taken care of" for their sassyness and noncompliance by being arrested and sent to a detention planet, known colloquially as Bitch Planet, obviously. If you're female and into comics, you need to, at minimum, check out the first issue. And then get the tattoo. At minimum.

Batgirl: Burnside - So, I don't read single issues of comics that much. I limit myself to TPBs for my own good. Fables is the only one I actually follow with any regularity and I recently discovered about 20 duplicate single issues in various piles. So, anyway, when I saw this cover (TOTALLY CUTE) and that it said Volume One, I didn't realize that it actually collects issues 35 - 40 of the Batgirl series. It still rocked my face off. Barbara Gordon, duh, is a major wiz coming to terms with her alter bad ass being popular and then unpopular a la every other superhero story. But it's done with a few twists and some great extra characters. Plus Black Canary is there in all her high- pitched glory.

Fairy Quest: Outcasts - Granted. Fairy tale retellings are kinda my #bookcrack. This is a two shot series that is making me follow Humberto Ramos around the internet like a fucking shadow. And here's my new wallpaper at work. If you don't love these three panels, you are as good as dead to me.

Saga is driving me a little crazy. I've committed to this series in trade paper back form. This means that, since it's on ongoing series, I actually have to wait until it "trades up" before I can read it!! It's kind of killing me. Now, obviously, I could decide to start doing single issues, instead. But then I would have some trades and some singles. UNACCEPTABLE! Plus, it would require me to start paying enough attention to what I have and when new issues come out to 1) get them when they are available, 2) not duplicate what I already have. Again, I recently found out I duplicated an insane number of Fables comics.

You need a summary of Saga: Hot goat man (Marko) falls in love with hot winged chick (Alana) and the couple, along with their "I thought horned people and winged people couldn't procreate with each other" child become the enemy targets of both their respective people, some contract killers, and at least two ex- girlfriends. But check out the goat guy. Seriously. Oh, the two groups of people are at war, a bit of a Star Wars kinda influence according to the stuff I've read from the creators. Is that important? Check out the goat dude, again. There are also some people with TVs for heads, who have sex with each other... Trust me. Just read it.

All pics on this post were found via Google search of awesome things. I did not draw them and do not own them, though I love them as if they are part of my very soul.

Writing a Blog- Part I

The thought that has consumed me for the last two days is this: what the hell am I going to write in that damn blog? Should I write about things that have happened in my life? Present happenings? That would be a blog filled with nonsensical ramblings related to patients, children, and reading. Classes start next week so I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to make fun of my new students. Past happenings? I got nothing. Should I write about things that other people want to read? What do other people want to read about, anyway?

I asked Bobby about this... he was as much help as you would imagine. He sits around the house working and learning about all kinds of current events that happen in other countries from TV and podcasts. He's right when he says that if he gives me things to talk about, I won't know diddly about them. Mostly, I feel that I get enough real life current events leaving the house every day. I don't need to hear about the hell other people suffer from broadcast news. My blog is more Avoidance Art, anyway.

I read one blog on Sparkpeople.com that got him and me talking... I'll spare the details here, given that I don't think anyone will be reading this anyway... the end result is that we have been thinking of things that people (read: men) should wait until AFTER they have slept with a woman to tell her. Of course, people (read: women) will think they are things to know PRIOR to the big reveal. Bobby and I keep thinking of things that should go on the list. Here it is so far:

1. I usually prefer thinner women but don't really feel comfortable approaching them. (This was actually the thing posted in the blog I read.)

2. You're sister really is the hot one.

3. Hmmm, maybe I'm actually gay.

4. Episode One was a work of genius.

5. You'd be more attractive if you...  [lost weight, fixed your nose].

6. My ex-boyfriend is a little psycho... just don't look over there.

7. I'm a Republican. (or a Tory if you listen to a bunch of British crap like Bobby does)

8. I guess it wasn't the pants that made you look fat.

9.  My pet roaches are very nice if you just leave them alone. Wanna meet them?

10. I don't read. I'm not a fan of words.

11. I was lying about being... [rich, a lawyer, a movie producer]. But I AM a stockroom manager at... [Blockbuster, McDonalds, any pizza chain].

12. I'm still waiting for the test results to come back.

13. That's the blood bed. We can't have sex on that. (actual lines from a Kevin Smith podcast)

14. I make comics for a living.

15. I find Sesame Street to be a bit challenging, intellectually.

Bobby actually came up with the majority of these pretty quickly... I wonder what he's not telling me!?